Thursday, August 13, 2009

Three Skeins of Malabrigo Pollen FTW!

A while back I momentarily became a robot and bought three skeins of Malabrigo worsted in Pollen. At the time I wasn't quite sure why I was buying it, I just let my reptilian brain do the talking and went with it. Later that day I got home, logged on to Ravelry and saw that not only had someone in a forum posted the question "what to do with three skeins of Pollen?", but that I had actually participated in the conversation. Seriously?!!Lo-these-many-months later I have put it to perfect use--Liesl. Somehow this sweater had not been on my radar until several weeks ago. Isn't it fascinating how a pattern can burn up the blogosphere without you as much as hearing a peep about it?Miraculously I actually had the foresight to bring this yarn with me on my trip to Mpls. and made the genius move of casting on for Liesl on the way back from the farm. A little knitting here and there and voilà I can now say that I knit a sweater in a week. Yes, I can now lay claim to being one of those knitters you (not so secretly) hate on Ravelry...you know, the ones who knit a sweater in a week? Ohai, that's me!The SpecsPattern: Liesl by Ysolda

Yarn: 3 skeins of Malabrigo worsted in Pollen

Needles: 7mm--oddly I actually had this totally non-standard size hanging around. Perhaps these were acquired sometime during my early knitting career when I thought you needed a new pair of needles for every new project. Cuz I was smart like that.

Mods: The only modification I made was that I did the sleeves on 7.5mm needles a. in order to Magic Loop them and b. so I could have a little drape happening. I also completed 3/4 of the body, did the sleeves to the length I wanted, and then went back and finished the body. This allowed me to very satisfyingly use all the yarn, every last bit.I am gaga for Liesl. Not only did it help me accomplish a little stash busting but I was also able to break out a super sweet shawl pin that Big Babs gave me--as it turns out it's the perfect closure for this sweater. Hooray!

I promise never to hate you for finishing a sweater in a week! I might be horribly jealous of your mad knitting skillz, however, especially in several months when I have neither time nor energy to knit.

I like yours much better than my own - which I have yet to show pics of because I am so thoroughly dissatisfied with every shot I take. You were so smart to stop knitting the body and then do the sleeves to the length you wanted. In addition to the fact that mine is a wee smaller than I'd like, the sleeves are also too short. I was working with only 2 skeins of Sundara, though, so I just had to stop (and believe me, I used every single bit of that yarn - I have less than 3 inches of it left, in little 1 inch increments!).

I LOVE the color you did yours in. So SO pretty. You did a great job!

(p.s. I also skipped the buttons on mine and am just using a shawl pin to close it - love your pin!)